"Oh Donna! Your dad!"
Uh oh. What has he done this time?! So often when I go in to see dad, his carer's have stories to tell me about him, and today was no different. Turns out dad was walking this morning! Well... almost. During his physio session, he was using the rail that lines the hall for assistance. They didnt need the large frame walker that he usually uses. They couldn't get over it.
"Your dad... he's determined."
Oh yes. Tell me about it.
He reminds me of those men in prison... who slowly, methodically, over time, work out an escape plan. There is that determindness within him to escape... away from all the people who tell him what to do... run to freedom. If only. Parkinson's is a prison from which there is no escape.
The physio said to me... "We've got to watch that other hip." Oh no... we don't need another hospital visit! Now that he has had a taste of mobility, he isn't going to give it up. How does he remember that he has been up and walking, yet forgets that he cannot walk unassisted. Ten times a day we are telling him to sit in his chair, he doesn't need to get up. In fact, can't get up. No... we are not imprisoning him. It's the Parkinson's that won't allow him to walk unattended. Oh dear.
In conversation with one of the care aides today, she was telling me how she enjoyed her job, and how much she took from it. She commented that dad hasn't lost his sense of humor... he keeps them on their toes, and numerous times through out the day they are cracking up at something he has said, or done. I just laugh and say, "Welcome to life with dad. Never a dull moment."
Having worked in construction most of his life, dad was always eyeing things up, figuring out how they were made. He has now figured out his wheelchair, and spends hours fiddling with the foot pegs... flipping them up and down, or taking them right off. Moving his wheelchair is no simple task... you have to ensure his footpegs are in the locked position and that his feet are in place. Which they never are. Now that he has figured out how the foot pegs come out, he removes them and disposes of them!
In further discussion today, I wondered aloud with the carer's if a hand puzzle would help him. He could sit there all day studying it. There are many parallel's with children and the elderly (another blog post for another day)... another one being their fascination with how things work. In fact, one of my friend's little boys has a wooden bench with different colored pegs and a little hammer to hit them with. I might get him something like that to play with. When I said I would go to the toy store to check out some toys, I was kind of given a strange look and some comment about not treating dad as a child. However, I am fascinated with the similarities between children's brains and the elderly. Children play with toys to learn skills, and also because they are safe. Elderly need toys to remind them of what they use to do, and because they are safe. Dad can no longer read, or work on hobbies, or do many things for himself. If he's fascinated with the workings of his chair, then maybe some kind of child's toy/puzzle thing will work for him. We shall see...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
We Have Contact
Over the past few weeks, there have been some minor renos and improvements at dad's care home. Currently, they are finishing up an Internet area; where the residents will be able to go online to check their email and surf the web ;) As well, the club manager will have a iPad that he can take around to the residents to use. He had better hang on to it around dad! Every time dad sees my iPhone, he eyes it up and thinks it is his! Today I was showing him how to swipe through pictures and he was getting the hang of it.
I am once again reminded of what a bummer this disease is. They have asked me at the care home what dad's hobbies were. I usually say that he worked hard 6 days a week, and read a newspaper in the Blue Chair the rest of the time. This is true.... but I had forgotten how much dad loved computers. In 1985ish, he bought a Commodore 128, which I believe cost somewhere in the vicinity of $5000!!! From then on, he always had a computer. I recall seeing him sit in front of the computer for hours, referring to his DOS for Dummies book. (Again, my memory is a bit fuzzy... it could have been Computers for Dummies.) An early adopter, he also had a massive 'brick' phone, complete with battery pack. So when he sits there and eyes up my iPhone... it isn't hard to be bummed out by the turn of events. He would have loved to have an iPhone. He'd be amazed at how far technology has come (aren't we all?) and what is available at your fingertips these days. He would have happily sat in the Blue Chair for hours, quietly looking things up on Google!
Anyway... he once again has access to the Internet and to his email. (Well, it should be implemented within the next week or so.) The staff will be able to help him log onto his email account... so should you wish to drop him a line or two... please feel free to email him at normanvercoe@gmail.com
Among the other improvements at the home... an al fresco dining room is being added. This means that once a year, family can organize a catered meal for family and friends. (Actually, it can be organized for more than once a year, but then the catering will be an additional cost.) This is a lovely addition, as it's a way to include the residents in family events. It can be very difficult to arrange for them to leave the care home. Also, when family visits from out of town, sometimes the resident can get left out of family functions.
As well, they have just purchased a Wii system. I was (slightly) excited to learn about this, as I have read that seniors can experience a slight improvement in their condition in using the Wii. When I mentioned this to the club manager, he said that was the reason they bought it! So I might just be playing a tennis game with dad yet! Unless he decides he wants to play Rock Band!
It is a lovely summer day here in Rose Bay... a slight breeze keeps it from being too hot! Dad and I sat out on the patio and shared a ginger beer this afternoon. (Ginger beer could be described as fizzy water with strong ginger flavor. It's yummy - if you are a ginger fan. It's non-alcoholic... dad isn't partying it up in his old age!) I do have a photo to upload... but will have to do that later. I have been having more computer issues - not sure what I do to them - but I have crashed the second computer in three months. It is in the shop being repaired and I hope to have it back tomorrow. (This time it seems to be the a virus, not the motherboard, so I don't think the problem is with the user!!) I hope. I have been without a computer for five days and it is hard to get bookwork done on borrowed computers. Or any photo editing for that matter. With items spread between a bedroom and a storage locker 10km down the road, it's already awkward in the organization department, let alone not having a personal computer to work on.
Anyway, I am rambling now. The point of this post was to let you know you can email dad if you wish. Can't promise that he'll reply, but he would love to hear from you!
I am once again reminded of what a bummer this disease is. They have asked me at the care home what dad's hobbies were. I usually say that he worked hard 6 days a week, and read a newspaper in the Blue Chair the rest of the time. This is true.... but I had forgotten how much dad loved computers. In 1985ish, he bought a Commodore 128, which I believe cost somewhere in the vicinity of $5000!!! From then on, he always had a computer. I recall seeing him sit in front of the computer for hours, referring to his DOS for Dummies book. (Again, my memory is a bit fuzzy... it could have been Computers for Dummies.) An early adopter, he also had a massive 'brick' phone, complete with battery pack. So when he sits there and eyes up my iPhone... it isn't hard to be bummed out by the turn of events. He would have loved to have an iPhone. He'd be amazed at how far technology has come (aren't we all?) and what is available at your fingertips these days. He would have happily sat in the Blue Chair for hours, quietly looking things up on Google!
Anyway... he once again has access to the Internet and to his email. (Well, it should be implemented within the next week or so.) The staff will be able to help him log onto his email account... so should you wish to drop him a line or two... please feel free to email him at normanvercoe@gmail.com
Among the other improvements at the home... an al fresco dining room is being added. This means that once a year, family can organize a catered meal for family and friends. (Actually, it can be organized for more than once a year, but then the catering will be an additional cost.) This is a lovely addition, as it's a way to include the residents in family events. It can be very difficult to arrange for them to leave the care home. Also, when family visits from out of town, sometimes the resident can get left out of family functions.
As well, they have just purchased a Wii system. I was (slightly) excited to learn about this, as I have read that seniors can experience a slight improvement in their condition in using the Wii. When I mentioned this to the club manager, he said that was the reason they bought it! So I might just be playing a tennis game with dad yet! Unless he decides he wants to play Rock Band!
It is a lovely summer day here in Rose Bay... a slight breeze keeps it from being too hot! Dad and I sat out on the patio and shared a ginger beer this afternoon. (Ginger beer could be described as fizzy water with strong ginger flavor. It's yummy - if you are a ginger fan. It's non-alcoholic... dad isn't partying it up in his old age!) I do have a photo to upload... but will have to do that later. I have been having more computer issues - not sure what I do to them - but I have crashed the second computer in three months. It is in the shop being repaired and I hope to have it back tomorrow. (This time it seems to be the a virus, not the motherboard, so I don't think the problem is with the user!!) I hope. I have been without a computer for five days and it is hard to get bookwork done on borrowed computers. Or any photo editing for that matter. With items spread between a bedroom and a storage locker 10km down the road, it's already awkward in the organization department, let alone not having a personal computer to work on.
Anyway, I am rambling now. The point of this post was to let you know you can email dad if you wish. Can't promise that he'll reply, but he would love to hear from you!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Excess Baggage
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| A bit bleary eyed... the stuff is back! / And where is this supposed to go!? |
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| Got it to fit... just... all 7.4 cubic metres |
Thursday, February 9, 2012
After 3 1/2 months; on a ship from Vancouver to Melbourne, and then a truck to Sydney; our goods were delivered this past Tuesday. On the one hand, it was a little like Christmas... unwrapping layers of paper to find out what qas hidden underneath. Clothing! Recipe books! Then there was the dark side... the paperwork and files. Oh. Ugh. I thought I had left it behind in Canada, but it followed me here!!
Taking Care of Dad is the name of this blog... and taking care of dad is what I continue to do. Canadian tax season is upon us... and the joys of gathering all the necessary paperwork is here. Procrastination ... if you wait long enough, it catches up with you. Thus begins the scavenger hunt of tracking down all pertinent information to mail back to dad's accountant in Canada. Followed by my bookwork for self employment. Ah... you have to love February. (No putting off paperwork till March this year, as I have to get all the info back to Canada for the accountants to work on it.)
After 3 1/2 months; on a ship from Vancouver to Melbourne, and then a truck to Sydney; our goods were delivered this past Tuesday. On the one hand, it was a little like Christmas... unwrapping layers of paper to find out what qas hidden underneath. Clothing! Recipe books! Then there was the dark side... the paperwork and files. Oh. Ugh. I thought I had left it behind in Canada, but it followed me here!!
Taking Care of Dad is the name of this blog... and taking care of dad is what I continue to do. Canadian tax season is upon us... and the joys of gathering all the necessary paperwork is here. Procrastination ... if you wait long enough, it catches up with you. Thus begins the scavenger hunt of tracking down all pertinent information to mail back to dad's accountant in Canada. Followed by my bookwork for self employment. Ah... you have to love February. (No putting off paperwork till March this year, as I have to get all the info back to Canada for the accountants to work on it.)
I was a little sad looking at all the boxes. Not to mention feeling a slight weight of responsibility. While it's all well and good to say... toss it out and start over... I am a little sentimental in that it would be nice to save some photo albums and memorabilia. Should my brothers have children someday; it would be nice to have some family history to pass on.
I know that I put off moving dad for as long as possible as it meant we would no longer have a family home. No one place for the family to gather... to use the familiar every day items, to browse through old photo albums, the furniture used to sit on and laugh adound, the pictures hanging on the wall.... The things we take for granted until they are no longer there. Not to mention my own items boxed up, waiting for me to get a life. The plates my friends are off at dinner parties, the items I used for baking. I still so involved in taking care of dad, I wonder when I will ever get to take them out of storage.
So it is taking a while to process. All the while, I know they are just things. At least that is what I am trying to get through my little brain! We carry our loved ones in our hearts. Things are things. They come and go. They help make life easier, but they can drag us down!
I have rescued a few things out of our things to make us feel more at home... bedding for me, pictures for dad. While he barely has room to swing a cat in his new abode... there is some wall space where he can hang the photos that hung in his apartment in White Rock.
Life changes and we adapt. Some way. Some how.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A Dad Update
People had said to me, "Just wait till your dad gets into care... he'll bounce back a bit, they always do." Having lived on his own... no doubt he had been worried about the future, what would happen to him, along with what might happen in the meantime, and all the details in running a home. Then there was the fall in September. Then the fall in November. A move in the middle of that. A new home to get used to. New people to get used to. The anniversary of mom's passing. Christmas, and all the memories that holds.
Last week I walked into the home to see dad, and if he wasn't down by the nurses station on his own. He'd wheeled down there by himself! He saw me... "Hello... how are you?" I sat down to chat with him... and he knew that it was Friday. I was thrilled!! In all our meetings with the geriatric doctor in White Rock, with the memory tests, he always had to be prompted as to what day it was. And here he knew it was Friday, without me mentioning a thing about it. Maybe he guessed... he's got a 1 in 7 chance of getting it right. Whatever. I'll take whatever I can get.
There is a twinkle in his eye these days... some cheeky comments to me, to my brother, and to the nurses too, I'm told. When I told him tonight that I was going to make mom's Lazy Daisy cake and that I would bring him a piece... his reply was, "Don't stop there." I started laughing and he looked at me as if to say, "Duh... I always eat more than one piece of cake!" I'd better make sure I don't forget the whipped cream!
Last week I walked into the home to see dad, and if he wasn't down by the nurses station on his own. He'd wheeled down there by himself! He saw me... "Hello... how are you?" I sat down to chat with him... and he knew that it was Friday. I was thrilled!! In all our meetings with the geriatric doctor in White Rock, with the memory tests, he always had to be prompted as to what day it was. And here he knew it was Friday, without me mentioning a thing about it. Maybe he guessed... he's got a 1 in 7 chance of getting it right. Whatever. I'll take whatever I can get.
There is a twinkle in his eye these days... some cheeky comments to me, to my brother, and to the nurses too, I'm told. When I told him tonight that I was going to make mom's Lazy Daisy cake and that I would bring him a piece... his reply was, "Don't stop there." I started laughing and he looked at me as if to say, "Duh... I always eat more than one piece of cake!" I'd better make sure I don't forget the whipped cream!
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